Collapsible heated canopy

ABSTRACT

The collapsible, heated canopy provides an electrically heated, retractable canopy atop a base that can be placed at the head of a bed. The retractable canopy, when extended, surrounds either side of a head, above the head and the rear of the head when a person rests his/her head inside the canopy. A thermostatic control and power cord are provided. An automatic cutoff of the heated canopy is provided by a sensor that measures ambient temperature and cuts off the system if the ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold within the confines of the canopy. A plush blanket with snaps is provided to fold around and envelop the base with a sleepworthy, comfortable material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/924,341, filed May 10, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to thermoelectric warming devices, andmore specifically to a collapsible, heated canopy that may be used forkeeping a person's head warmed while sleeping, or that may be used tokeep an infant warm.

2. Description of the Related Art

Traditionally, electric blankets have been made using a sheet-sized,generally rectangular swatch of fabric that encloses a set of electricheating elements. The heating elements may be connected to a power cordhaving a thermostat for heat control of the electric blanket. Althoughelectric blankets have long been in use, placing some portion of theelectric blanket over one's head for head protection from coldtemperatures and drafts may cause one to feel smothered, or to actuallybe smothered, or may initiate a claustrophobic attack. People whoexperience head chills while sleeping would benefit from a product thatcould serve as a thermoelectric head warmer without causing discomfortor anxiety to the person using the product.

It is well known that loss of body heat is rapid through the unprotectedscalp. Persons who enjoy certain recreational activities, such asoutdoor camping, recreational vehicle users, and boat owners experiencecold heads because, traditionally, the head of the beds in arecreational vehicle or a boat are usually on an outside wall andexposed to cold and drafts. Additionally, patients of medical treatmentswho suffer from hair fall-out, resulting in full or partial baldness,may also experience a cold head. Similarly, those with normal hair loss,baldness, or those merely trying to enjoy today's modern shorthairstyles may suffer from the same discomfort. Therefore, there is aneed for a thermoelectric device that provides warmth to the entire headand also to the ears, shoulders and neck to prevent heat loss duringsleep.

Thus, a collapsible and heated canopy solving the aforementionedproblems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The collapsible, heated canopy provides an electrically heated,retractable canopy atop a base that can be placed at the head of a bed.The retractable canopy, when extended, surrounds either side of a head,above the head and the rear of the head when a person rests his/her headinside the canopy. A thermostatic control and power cord are provided.An automatic cutoff of the heated canopy is provided by a sensor thatmeasures ambient temperature and cuts off the system if the ambienttemperature exceeds a predetermined threshold within the confines of thecanopy. A plush blanket with snaps is provided to fold around, snapinto, and envelop the base with a sleepworthy, comfortable material.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of the collapsible, heatedcanopy according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a collapsible, heated canopy accordingto the present invention, partially broken away and in section to showdetails thereof.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the base and frame of a collapsibleheated canopy according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention is a collapsible,heated canopy, designated generally as 10 in the drawings, that providesan electrically heated, retractable canopy 55 atop a base 30 that can beplaced at the head of a bed B. Preferably, the base 30 is substantiallyrectangular and has a tapered front end or edge. An optional verticalledge may be disposed at the rear of the base 30 to provide anattachment point to the head of bed B. The retractable canopy 55, whenextended, surrounds either side of a head, above the head, and the rearof the head when a user U rests his/her head inside the canopy 55. Thecanopy is preferably made of a durable fabric material. A thermoelectricheating grid 60, e.g., resistance wires, is disposed within the canopy55. A thermostatic control 15 and power cord 20 are provided andelectrically connected to the heating grid 60. An automatic cutoff ofthe heated canopy is provided by a sensor 25 that measures ambienttemperature and cuts off the system if the ambient temperature exceeds apredetermined threshold within the confines of the canopy 55.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, a plush blanket 35 with snaps 45 is provided tofold around and snap into the base 30 at recessed slots 40 so that theblanket 35 can envelop the base 30 with a sleepworthy, comfortablematerial. As shown in FIG. 3, the retraction-extension capability of thecanopy 55 is provided by a pivoting frame over which the canopy material55 may be flexibly attached, the pivoting frame having a plurality ofU-shaped frame members 50 having pivot attachment points 12 proximateopposing front sides of the base 30.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A collapsible, heated canopy, comprising: a base adapted forplacement at a head of a user's bed, the base having a front end and arear end; a frame pivotally attached to the front of the base, the framebeing extendible to form an arch above the base in an open position andretractable to a collapsed position against the rear of the base; afabric cover defining a canopy attached to the frame, the frame definingan opening at the front end of the base adapted for receiving an adult'shead through the opening when in the open position, the fabric coverextending from the front opening to the rear end of the base; and atleast one heating element disposed in the fabric cover, the canopydefining a heated area for resting one's head while sleeping.
 2. Thecollapsible, heated canopy according to claim 1, further comprising apower cord and thermostatic control electrically connected to theheating element, the power cord and thermostatic control supplyingelectrical power to the heating element and regulating thermal output ofthe heating element.
 3. The collapsible, heated canopy according toclaim 1, further comprising a sensor, the sensor measuring ambienttemperature and cutting off the system if the ambient temperatureexceeds a predetermined threshold within the confines of the canopy. 4.The collapsible, heated canopy according to claim 1, wherein the base issubstantially rectangular, having a tapered front edge.
 5. Thecollapsible, heated canopy according to claim 1, further comprising avertical ledge disposed at the rear of the base, the vertical ledgeproviding an attachment point to a head of the bed.
 6. The collapsible,heated canopy according to claim 1, further comprising: recessed slotsdisposed along the periphery of the base; a blanket having snapconnectors disposed along its periphery, the blanket folding around thebase and being snap fitted together through the recessed slots of thebase.
 7. The collapsible, heated canopy according to claim 1, whereinthe pivotally attached frame comprises a plurality of U-shaped framemembers.